Developmental Psychology-Early Adulthood to Midde Adoulthood - Essay Example

Developmental Psychology-Early Adulthood to Middle Adulthood of Individuation and Relationships in Adulthood Individuation refers to the process by which a person separates from his or her parents to become independent and unique. Although it is a process that goes on throughout one’s lifespan, it is more prominent at adolescence and early adulthood. Biological, environmental and cultural factors influence individuation, just like they influence other types of lifespan development and growth (Berk, 2012).

Challenges and changes that propel individuation include the fact that at early adulthood and adolescence, one needs to start shaping his or her career and future family life. At this stage, a person’s social-emotional, physical and cognitive abilities and processes are quite integral to their perfuming of adulthood tasks (Berk, 2012). Among the factors that promote individuation are the need for changes in and quality relationships change, professional choices, formal education acquisition and completion, parenting responsibilities.

However, one’s physical, emotional and cognitive capacities may limit on behavior and perception of success or failure, thus influencing his or her sense of self and ability to execute tasks associated with early and middle adulthood (An & Cooney, 2006). An aspect of adulthood directly affected and changed by adulthood is relationship with others. As children enter adolescence and early adulthood, there is an increased likelihood of them to push away their parents, guardians and caregivers as they crave and gain more autonomy (An & Cooney, 2006).

Largely used in explaining and describing human relationships and interactions at adolescences and early childhood is the individuation theory, which has received a lot of attention in recent times. This theory mainly explores the connections between attachments, interactions across transmission and relationships on one hand and individuation on the others. It also extrapolates individuation beyond adolescence and the family system.As adolescents transit to early adulthood, they improve their communication with others in society by speaking skillfully, respecting their partners, compromising, being supportive, and respective of others’ privacy.

All these factors help in forging and building better relationships. However, those in early adulthood are observed to be better placed in connecting with others, using these qualities. In addition, as one enters early adulthood, he or she is better placed to balance between being independent or oneself and getting connected with others in society (Donnellan et al., 2007). Thus, the core challenge that is faced in individuation is how to reconcile autonomy and belonging (Donnellan et al., 2007).

That is, many adolescents and young adults have difficulties skillfully expressing their autonomy and their being while at the same time genuinely engaging and connecting with others in society. As an adolescents inch closer to early adulthood, they develop individuation and improve relationships via promotion of trust, respect, communication, safety, support and equality (Donnellan et al., 2007). As partners, young adults practice honesty and accountability, dependability, belief in each other, respectful language, open-mindedness, sharing of thoughts (Boucher & Maslach, 2009).

Other hallmarks of individuation in relationships are emotional support, equal decision-making, engagement in activities of interest to all partners, reliance on one another and self identification outside their relationships. Since adolescents and young adults require autonomy as well as connection with others, a balance is often struck between give and take in relationships (Boucher & Maslach, 2009).ReferencesAn, J. S., and Cooney, T. M. (2006). Psychological Well-Being in Mid To Late Life: The Role of Generativity Development and Parent–Child Relationships across the Lifespan.

International Journal of Behavioral Development, 30(5), 410–421.Berk, L. E. (2012). Development through the lifespan. Boston MA: Allyn & Bacon.Boucher, H. C., and Maslach, C. (2009). Culture and Individuation: The Role of Norms and Self-Construal. Journal of Social Psychology, 149(6): 677–693.Donnellan, M. B., Conger, R. D., and Burzette, R. G. (2007). Personality Development from Late Adolescence to Young Adulthood: Differential Stability, Normative Maturity, and Evidence for the Maturity-Stability Hypothesis.

Journal of Personality, 75(2); 237–263.